Do they eat red kidney beans? I have taco filling that is beans and rice. I am actually go to try it in a few nights with quinoa instead of rice as quinoa is a grain with protein. Other favourites here include

* fried rice (with or without bacon)* risottos. I make a 3 cheese risotto with that fancy ham that I can't spell grilled and crumbled on top* rice and mince and vege thing* chickpea and lentil stew (can't see the lentils LOL)

Do they eat red kidney beans? I have taco filling that is beans and rice. I am actually go to try it in a few nights with quinoa instead of rice as quinoa is a grain with protein. Other favourites here include

* fried rice (with or without bacon)* risottos. I make a 3 cheese risotto with that fancy ham that I can't spell grilled and crumbled on top* rice and mince and vege thing* chickpea and lentil stew (can't see the lentils LOL)

No they wont is kidney beans either- I have tried them. I have bought some plain couscous to try, but need to get some ideas of flavourings for that.

Have you tried dhals, where the lentils are pretty much a puree, rather than whole lentils? Urid dhal is nice like this can be made nice and creamy, and quite different to other dhals.

Anyway, some suggestions are:

Falafel (make them yourself from soaked chickpeas and it is very cheap). They look a bit like meatballs, so good for people who like meat.

OmeletsQuicheFrittataVegetable biryani or pilau (make the same as with meat, but leave the meat out, and put in extra vegies such as zuchini, cauliflower).Pasta with a tomato based sauce and grated cheesePasta with a creamy tuna or vegetable sauceSalad with boiled eggs and/or tinned tunaNut roastVegie burgersNori rolls with vegetable, tuna, omelet fillingsPizzaVegetable soupVegetable stews or curriesStir frys

with the couscous fry some garlic and onion finely choped add other vegies like cpsicum or carrot also finely chopped and add a good stock ( vegeta) water and couscous. tasty with a stew or a side of vegies...

in our house we are mostly vegetarian. however we eat lot of lentils, beans .sometimes fish and chickenwould your kids eat mild curries? having asri lankan husband my children are used to eating lentil curry which is made up of lentils cocnut milk and herbs ( no chilli) with rice and chicken curry. i usually make a big batch of curry and eat it over a few days..

what about vegie stews? or pasta with a vegie sauce?in my family we used to make baked rice which is tomato sauce ( herbs garlic and onion) mixed with cooked rice and mozzeralla cheese baked until golden..

vegie lasagna? with fish i often bake whole fish ( DH) often catches a few ) or i buy fish like tuna or swordfish to make curry

No they wont is kidney beans either- I have tried them. I have bought some plain couscous to try, but need to get some ideas of flavourings for that.

couscous really doesn't taste like much. I tend to fluff mine out at the end with a lot of butter. Not healthy, but tasty It's a bugger they won't eat kidney beans. Have you tried other beans like butter beans? Chickpeas? I would really recommend quinoa as it has a lovely nutty flavour to it. I resisted it for ages until my husband made me eat LOL the other night he made a fantastic chicken with apricot and quinoa dish. Lovely!

Have you tried dhals, where the lentils are pretty much a puree, rather than whole lentils? Urid dhal is nice like this can be made nice and creamy, and quite different to other dhals.

Anyway, some suggestions are:

Falafel (make them yourself from soaked chickpeas and it is very cheap). They look a bit like meatballs, so good for people who like meat.

OmeletsQuicheFrittataVegetable biryani or pilau (make the same as with meat, but leave the meat out, and put in extra vegies such as zuchini, cauliflower).Pasta with a tomato based sauce and grated cheesePasta with a creamy tuna or vegetable sauceSalad with boiled eggs and/or tinned tunaNut roastVegie burgersNori rolls with vegetable, tuna, omelet fillingsPizzaVegetable soupVegetable stews or curriesStir frys

No haven't tried dhals.

QUOTE (Lyra @ 27/12/2012, 01:43 PM)

couscous really doesn't taste like much. I tend to fluff mine out at the end with a lot of butter. Not healthy, but tasty It's a bugger they won't eat kidney beans. Have you tried other beans like butter beans? Chickpeas? I would really recommend quinoa as it has a lovely nutty flavour to it. I resisted it for ages until my husband made me eat LOL the other night he made a fantastic chicken with apricot and quinoa dish. Lovely!

OMG then try them! Cook until the lentils are dissolved, and your kids won't even know they are lentils. You can add vegies to them as well. Serve with rice or lebanese bread or some other type of flat bread.

OMG then try them! Cook until the lentils are dissolved, and your kids won't even know they are lentils. You can add vegies to them as well. Serve with rice or lebanese bread or some other type of flat bread.

I know you said not just vegies, PBQ, but I've managed to win over dedicated carnivores with this:

Eggplant Parmigiana

make up a thick tomato "sauce" by combining tomato paste, crushed garlic and plenty of dried oregano, and some red wine to make it into a thick sauce.

Slice eggplant lengthways into about 1cm slices. Dust with plain flour. Dip in beaten egg then coat well with fine dry breadcrumbs.

Pan fry the crumbed eggplant slices in olive oil - not too much - until golden brown. Lay the slices side by side in a single layer in a baking dish.Place a generous slice of mozzarella on each, then a good dollop of the tomato sauce (spreading the sauce out a bit so that it covers the cheese).

Then sprinkle the lot with a little parmesan and bake at 200c for 20-30 minutes.

I know you said not just vegies, PBQ, but I've managed to win over dedicated carnivores with this:

Eggplant Parmigiana

make up a thick tomato "sauce" by combining tomato paste, crushed garlic and plenty of dried oregano, and some red wine to make it into a thick sauce.

Slice eggplant lengthways into about 1cm slices. Dust with plain flour. Dip in beaten egg then coat well with fine dry breadcrumbs.

Pan fry the crumbed eggplant slices in olive oil - not too much - until golden brown. Lay the slices side by side in a single layer in a baking dish.Place a generous slice of mozzarella on each, then a good dollop of the tomato sauce (spreading the sauce out a bit so that it covers the cheese).

Then sprinkle the lot with a little parmesan and bake at 200c for 20-30 minutes.

This is really tasty with a green salad and some crusty bread.

I will try that, thanks. I have actually just added eggplant to my shopping list, as someone else has sugeested roasted vegies for ontop of the couscous

Just remember with eggplants that you need to salt them otherwise they are very bitter

Or try the little skinny eggplants. You can cook them whole. A nice way is with potatoes and tomatoes with some curry spices. Or just buy little normal ones. But I never salt my eggplant, no matter what size - but I cook it in ways that probably don't need salting.

Aldi have a great tray of spinach and ricotta cannelloni in their meat section. It's our go to quick mid week meal. My dh is a massive meat eater and he loves this dish. Cheap too at about $9 a tray for about 8 tubes. With a salad and some herb bread, it's plenty!

This is what I have come up with for the next fortnight- Some of the stuff I already have in the freezer

The first lot I have 5 people in the house (the 2 guests- wont try anything new)Tomorrow----Spaghetti BologneseSaturday----Sweet and Sour Chicken Stir FrySunday-----Roast PorkMOnday-----Mac Cheese Bake/SaladTuesday----Chicken Lasagne/SaladWednesday----Spinach and Ricotta Canneloni/Salad

Everything sounds good. I probably wouldn't have spring rolls with a salad though. And I'd maybe have something else with the fried rice. Maybe have the spring rolls before the fried rice, and have something else with the salad?

I also got a Jamie Oliver cookbook for Christmas, and he did a very yummy looking stuffed squach (or pumpkin)

I found, when my older one was young and it was her and I on a very small budget, I used to stretch meat rather than make meals meat free - so our spag bol sauce was about 85% grated veges and red lentils with a little mince in for her to identify!!

Other ideas are to work the kidney beans/chick peas etc into their diets so they aren't too obvious at first i.e. kidney beans in the burrito mix for a while, chick peas in a stew...

We love fried rice made using 90 second brown rice. The brown rice has the nicest flavour & texture.

What about something like creamy mushroom crepes? Pumpkin risotto is nice or I've made an oven baked risotto before with mushrooms, pinenuts, fetta & baby spinach. You can also re-hash risotto by rolling leftovers into balls, crumbing and frying, even popping a little cube of cheese in the centre for a suprise Things like potato rosti/hashbrown type things where you can mix in a grated carrot or something may go down well with kids also.

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